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Overview

Travelers hear lots of talk about flights, road trips and cruises -- but precious little about train tours, unless they are in Europe. Overseas, rail travel is still a viable and popular transportation method, while here in the United States the good old railroad too often takes a backseat to flying, driving or cruising. It doesn't have to be that way, however. The railroads are targeting tourists with a compelling array of train tours, ranging in scope from regional excursions to major cross-country trips.

America's Beautiful West

This 14-day Amtrak vacation (vacationsbyrail.com) takes passengers through the heart of the western United States, with tour stops at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Sacramento. Portions of the trip are on a motor coach. The longest train rides are from the departure point, Chicago's Union Station, to Flagstaff, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and then from Salt Lake City, Utah, back to Chicago aboard the California Zephyr. The return trip is highlighted by a train ride through the Colorado Rockies.

Empire Builder Experience

Another Amtrak tour originating in Chicago, the Empire Builder Experience (vacationsbyrail.com) takes passengers on a five-day, four-night, 2,206-mile train ride all the way to Seattle. Passengers get a private sleeper on Amtrak's celebrated Empire Builder. Sights along the way include the Mississippi River, the Bear Paw Mountains, Glacier National Park, Icicle Canyon, the Gateway to Mt. Ranier, the Columbia River Gorge and portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Classic Coast to Coast

The Classic Coast to Coast (vacationsbyrail.com) rail tour, as its name implies, takes passengers from the East Coast to the West Coast, leaving from New York City and arriving six days later in San Francisco. After a New York City bus tour, passengers board the Lake Shore Limited at Penn Station and ride the rails to Chicago. There, they switch to the California Zephyr for the remainder of the ride to San Francisco. Along the way, the train passes through the Colorado Rockies, the Continental Divide, Moffat Tunnel and Salt Lake City.

Trains of the Colorado Rockies

This nine-day tour (tourvacationstogo.com) takes passengers on rides aboard a variety of classic Colorado trains, including a journey on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through southwestern Colorado's San Juan Mountains; a ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad, completed in 1884, through the Rockies; and a trip up Pike's Peak on the world's highest cog railroad. Along the way there's ample time to explore Denver, Colorado's capital; Mesa Verde National Park, home of ancient Indian cliff dwellers; and the Old West town of Durango.

Alaska Railroad Adventure

The Alaska Railroad Adventure (alaskatours.com) is a seven-day tour that begins with a train ride from Anchorage to Whittier. There, passengers board a high-speed catamaran for a cruise through Prince William Sound. The train then returns to Anchorage and the next day chugs to Denali National Park, where there's a brief afternoon stop and guests may enjoy an optional helicopter tour or whitewater river raft ride. The next day, guests are taken on a bus tour of the park, followed by a train ride to Fairbanks. After a sternwheeler cruise on the Chena and Tanana Rivers, the train takes passengers back to Anchorage.

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About the Author

Thomas K. Arnold is publisher and editorial director of "Home Media Magazine" and a regular contributor to "Variety." He is a former editorial writer for U-T San Diego. He also has written for "San Diego Magazine," "USA Today" and the Copley News Service. Arnold attended San Diego State University.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.